The stage is set for the ETU Powerman European Sprint Duathlon Championships in Horst

Horst aan de Maas will be the focus of the Duathlon world this weekend as it hosts both the ETU Powerman European Long Distance Championships and ETU Powerman European Sprint Distance Championships.

Now in its second year as an official competition, the European Sprint Duathlon Championships is growing in numbers and this year athletes will compete in Elite, U23, Age Groups and Para-duathlon events.

In the Elite Women's race, Petra Fasungova (SVK) is the big favourite. The 2013 World Duathlon Champion also won in Horst last year as an U23 athlete and knows the course well. Nevertheless, Fasungova will not have the race all her own way and faces competition from a strong Dutch contingent, including dynamic sister duo Lizette and Marieke Van der Vegt. Marieke is the Dutch National Triathlon Champion.

Georgia Priarone is the only athlete registered in the U23 Elite Women's Sprint Distance competition.

In the Elite Men's race, Laurent Martinou (FRA), an experienced Long Distance Duathlete, tries out the Sprint Distance and his transition will be intriguing. Tim van Hemel (BEL) won the 20-24 Age Group category in Horst last year and returns to test himself against the Elites. Another Belgian contender is Francois Humblet, who finished 2nd in the Belgian National Duathlon Championships in 2013.In the U23 category, Ireland's James Speight narrowly missed out on a podium in the same event last year and will be out to make amends this time round. Russia' Maxim Subbotin is a Junior Triathlon European Cup winner and Mark Hammersma has an excellent record in Cross triathlon. However, this is very much an open race and anyone could take the title.

Alongside the Elite and U23 events, 300 Age Group athletes will compete across 14 categories to become European Sprint Distance Champions.

12 Para-Duathletes are also competing with the PT4 category offering the highest number of participants. Amongst them, Dutch legend and 3 times European Triathlon Champion Rob Noordzij would love to add a Duathlon title to his medal haul.

The European Sprint Distance Duathlon Championship events cover a 5km run, 20km bike and final 2.5km run to finish.

European Sprint Distance Duathlon Championships - Race Information

Elite Women Start List - 1345 Start

U23 Women Start List - 1345 Start

Elite Men Start List - 1340 Start

U23 Men Start List - 1340 Start

Para-Duathlon Start List - 1350 Start

All information about the course, start times etc. can be found on the website www.powerman.nl and the ETU website.